FWD 3400 in RWD f-body

[stormwolf1972]

i am working on swapping a 1999 3400 from an old alero into a 1994 f-body. i am going to swap.was going for the top end swap but the 3.4 block is shot....i am going to swap over engine wiring harness and pcm for the motor.....anyone else interested in the mount when i get it finished?...and any advice would be greatly apprieciated

[bszopi]

I wouldn't swap in the PCM if I were you... The tranny controls will jack up everything, as well as the communications between the PCM and the now missing BCM. You'd be better off just using your stock PCM to control the engine.

[stormwolf1972]

i am only going to use to pcm to run the engine....and the pcm in the 94 f-body is crap...no tuning for it at all... i know a place that can tune the ecm for the 99 3400....abd have already talked to them...he says he may be able to get the tranny control to work but if not i'll go with a non electronic 4l60 and eliminate that problem completely

[ForcedFirebird]

You're going to have your hands full. This is a big topic on one of the f-body sites (thirdgen.org). Just a couple of items off the top of my head are, starter on wrong side, exhaust manifolds, motor mounts, etc. It has been done, but I don't know if it worth it in the end when you can use all the parts from the FWD on the RWD block.

[IsaacHayes]

The ecm will run the engine in a limp mode if it thinks the trans is hurt/not working right. So being able to tune that out is a must if using a new ecm.

[stormwolf1972]

i have someone that can disable the trans in the ecm...that isnt a problem....i think i have the starter issue under control...i am going to use a tublar k-member...for extra clearance....rk sport headers are the only RWD headers that will work either way....and the stock 3.4 in it is rated at 160 hp the 99 3400 is rated between 175 to 185......more power not counting my mods.....i ported the heads...going to have the upper and lower manifolds glass beaded pretty smooth..... need advice on valve springs and rocker arms....have a cam chosen from miltzy motor sports....the roller motor is just a better performer...besides it'll be easier to swap in the 3500 heads and intake later if it works...just before i turbo it..lol.....but thats a little farther in the future

[wasas9]

Go for the LS6 springs, with 88 toyota land cruiser seats, and IIRC 91 or 92 2.2 MPFI exhaust seals. That should hold a decently aggressive cam and is much better compared to the stock springs vs. the LSx's.

But if you were doing the 3400 swap..you might as well do the 3500 since its a better motor...that is if you can find one cheap and local.

[stormwolf1972]

lol..i already have the 3400....picked it up for 150 bucks.....it was smoking and whoever owned it broke 2 exhaust studs off in the heads so they replaced the whole motor.....i got the bolts out and just have to rebuild it.....but the 3500 top end is definetly a possibility for the future....

[wasas9]

ahh i see. not a bad score. i got my old 3400 for 265 with 38k miles on it...

got 2 3500s for 630$

hehe

[stormwolf1972]

only 3500 around here run about 1500 to 2000....where did you find 2 for that price?

[Joseph Upson]

Make sure the oil pan will clear the crossmember, you will probably have to do a little work with the engine mount bracket bosses on the block, moving the starter to the opposite side shouldn't be to big of a problem since it has been done so many times installing the rwd 3.4 in the Fiero since most of the Fiero guys refuse to leave the stone ages and go with a complete fwd 3.4 for real gains. You may be able to leave it where it is by running a remote oil filter if that's the only thing in the way on the driver side.

[stormwolf1972]

i see someone has been reading my mind....the tubular crossmember will get the clearance...there is a guy who built a turbo'd f-body using a FWD block but he went with the 3.4 tope end....and the remote oil filter is already on my shopping list...

[wasas9]

only 3500 around here run about 1500 to 2000....where did you find 2 for that price?

car-part.com

A JY 3 hours south of me had 2 listed. I called and offered 600$ for both.

I just happen to have family down there, so day after Xmas my Gparents picked them up and hauled them back lol!!

[stormwolf1972]

you are a lucky man...lol